Consolidated Kansas

[maidenwolfx80]

Here is my boy not sure if it shows his colors well enough. I think he is handsome and worth breeding. He is also very gentle and friendly.

 

[mommahen10]

I agree that the names are so close that it does get confusing about the Americanas, Ameraucanas, Araucanas, geez. I think they are using Americanas to fool people. Maybe they don't know better or maybe it's deliberate, but people like me don't know better and go for it. What's the difference between RIR and production red?

Hawkeye, your heart problem sounds really scary and it sounds like you pushed the having baby thing to the limit for you. There may be drs that specialize in that stuff if you ever did want to have another, also maybe after a longer break inbetween it wouldn't be as hard on you???? I don't know, I know nothing about heart issues and pregnancy. I would be thinking about being there for the ones you have. I say that, but I've had my own set of risks and still said bring it on again. Everyone says that about having so many, but it's one at a time. It's not like having 10 babies at once, we only have 7 at home now, there are enough big kids to help with little kids and such. I'm going to agree that your body couldn't handle the pregnancy part, it sounds like you handle the busy schedule already though.

Someone said something about the midwives being prepared. I've had many birth experiences, and many more than just my own too. I personally have had hospital medicated births, hospital natural births, free standing birth center births, home births, emergency c-sections, and have had a range of experiences even with that. Normal perfect beautiful births, crazy wild hurry up it's coming now births, insanely dramatic emergency c-sections. I just want to agree that the midwives are far more prepared to look for the tiny details for anything going off, they are prepared to catch things early because they have to. My midwife came to the house with huge suitcases of supplies and even an oxygen tank. They don't want to lose a mom or baby either and because of our culture, they are practically hung if something does go wrong so I think they have a stronger motivation that way too to be certain that there is nothing missed.

 

[mommahen10]

Hawkeye, thanks for the list of things to look for. I think that someone should make a breed guide for dummies with pics of what's good and what's bad. I am still trying to figure out which feathers are which.

 

[Hawkeye95]

They must have black tails and yellow legs. Ugh, I've been searching all over the internet for what ours used to look like-- and I can find nothing but RIR crosses or just reds... annoying! (I'll keep looking for REAL pictures!) Here is a painted picture of what ours used to look like and the closest I've found to what they should look like.. Keeping in mind that the black should not be in the hackles. I never showed these guys-- only my dad's Polish. I was all about the crests back then! LOL My dad had a really old line of RIR that he picked up when I was a kid. I've not seen anything so far that looked near as nice.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I agree that the names are so close that it does get confusing about the Americanas, Ameraucanas, Araucanas, geez. I think they are using Americanas to fool people. Maybe they don't know better or maybe it's deliberate, but people like me don't know better and go for it. What's the difference between RIR and production red?

Hawkeye, your heart problem sounds really scary and it sounds like you pushed the having baby thing to the limit for you. There may be drs that specialize in that stuff if you ever did want to have another, also maybe after a longer break inbetween it wouldn't be as hard on you???? I don't know, I know nothing about heart issues and pregnancy. I would be thinking about being there for the ones you have. I say that, but I've had my own set of risks and still said bring it on again. Everyone says that about having so many, but it's one at a time. It's not like having 10 babies at once, we only have 7 at home now, there are enough big kids to help with little kids and such. I'm going to agree that your body couldn't handle the pregnancy part, it sounds like you handle the busy schedule already though.

Someone said something about the midwives being prepared. I've had many birth experiences, and many more than just my own too. I personally have had hospital medicated births, hospital natural births, free standing birth center births, home births, emergency c-sections, and have had a range of experiences even with that. Normal perfect beautiful births, crazy wild hurry up it's coming now births, insanely dramatic emergency c-sections. I just want to agree that the midwives are far more prepared to look for the tiny details for anything going off, they are prepared to catch things early because they have to. My midwife came to the house with huge suitcases of supplies and even an oxygen tank. They don't want to lose a mom or baby either and because of our culture, they are practically hung if something does go wrong so I think they have a stronger motivation that way too to be certain that there is nothing missed.

RIR and production reds really do not look anything alike if you have seen a RIR in person. Their tails are amazing!! Productions are bland and blah by comparison, and they don't have the correct type, either. I noticed their tails are not held at the correct angle, their chests are not as deep, wide and stuck out, they tend to have grey legs, and of course, wrong coloring. I had to go off all my heart meds during pregnancy. They are Class D drugs, and dangerous to babies. I really don't think I could do it again and go off my meds. Sounds like some really great experiences you have had! Really neat!!

Hawkeye, thanks for the list of things to look for. I think that someone should make a breed guide for dummies with pics of what's good and what's bad. I am still trying to figure out which feathers are which.

The APA and ABA have "The Standard of Perfection"! So yes, there is a book out there already! It has pictures in it and they talk about the faults and defects. I would buy a used one off of eBay, as they can be really pricey brand new. The last book to come out was in 2010, so look for one close to that date. The other thing is that if you get really serious about breeding a particular breed, then I would go join that club. Then you can find out what issues they are having with the breed and learn how to avoid them, or fix them and get your birds to breed true with correct coloring and type. A lot of genes are sex linked, so knowing what to breed with what-- perhaps the female is more important in that breed, I don't know. But those are the kinds of things you need to find out. Also, keep in mind that your rooster is HALF of your flock. He is the most important investment you will make. The girls can be bred out and culled... but your rooster is what will make or break your program. See...?? Isn't this fun!? I get so excited talking about the SOP!! LOL

ETA: here is a pic that is pretty good! You can't see his type very well-- but the coloring is there. His tail isn't quite as nice as you want. His legs look a bit washed out, but that can happen the older they get, usually on hens, NOT roosters. Hens will have their legs bleached out the longer they lay.

 

[checoukan]

You guys are luck that got to have more than one baby. I always wanted three, but doctors stopped me at one, I am lucky they even allowed me to have her.

 

[Hawkeye95]

You guys are luck that got to have more than one baby. I always wanted three, but doctors stopped me at one, I am lucky they even allowed me to have her.

Awwwww, Rosie, I'm sorry. I pressed my own luck, for sure.



You guys-- UPS JUST arrived a minute ago and my new purse came!! I have been looking at this purse on Amazon forever and drooling over it. I finally gave in last week and just ordered it. LOL My Dh has no idea-- I bet he will totally freak when he sees me running around carrying.... THIS!!

(I didn't tell him so he could enjoy the surprise!) hahahahhaa!

 

[chicken danz]

That purse is so stinking cute! I don't carry a purse but if I did I would love that!
On the subject of babies. If I were to have one these days I would choose not to have an epidural, but be sure that one was on hard if I wanted it. I am sure midwives are very capable of helping births. I have a granddaughter who is actually going to school to become one.
I think my own questions there would be concern for the baby itself. I only had my first child without fetal monitoring. It wasn't available then. Everyone of my children ended up getting the cord around their neck and having their heartbeat drop. It was fairly simple for them to reposition the babies, but I wonder if I would have known if it weren't for that. Do midwives use fetal monitors? I honestly don't have clue. At any rate I think whatever one goes through is worth it just to have that child. My children gave me a reason to hang in there, to keep going, to never give up. Without them heaven knows what I would have done with my life.

I know one thing, Josie, if you move down Andover way my heart will be broken. I won't get to play step in grandma!!! But I did wonder how you would handle that.

I can't wait to see if it is a boy or a girl!!!

Well the pig is still thriving this morning. I haven't been out there yet to care for him.
I had to get up and go to a retirement breakfast this morning so I am hours behind on my schedule. I have DH working on putting an extra band of wiring on the bottom of the new chipmonk cage. When that is done I will start trying to find a place to put it and try to get it set up for them. Even if the long term chipmonks don't work out I have one awesome huge cage that I could use for about anything. I could even keep chickens in there if I needed to.
It's getting cold out. I have already switched to warmer clothes since morning.

 

[Trish44]

checoukan, I know how you feel about not being able to have more than one baby. I had a miscarriage the first time & then ended up with the pre-eclampsia with my son. After that things just never worked out for me to have another one & I had endometriosis really bad & ended up having a hysterectomy at the age of 36. I had wanted a girl so bad, but it just wasn't to be.

Hawkeye, that is the cutest purse! It's probably too small for what I usually carry, but it's adorable. Wow, you were lucky to survive having kids I think, with your heart condition it would be really dangerous to try to have any more.

Well it's windy & cool here today, I had thought the real cool front wasn't supposed to be here until tomorrow. I have so much to try to get done today. I spent time out in the garage last night re-arranging containers & barrels so I can get my DH to help me put feed away today. He still hasn't gotten out of his chair yet. I'm going to move the cat food out to the garage so all of the feed is in there so it will be more convenient. The cats aren't fed up by the house any more now, so having the food up there isn't where it needs to be. It it's all in the garage then it's a more central place to take it out to the pens & where it needs to go. I've got tot get out this afternoon & put the other tarps on the pens I got & try to finish putting on the plastic on the hoop coop. I sure hope the wind dies down a little or it's not going to be a fun project by myself. I just have to get this outside stuff done though because I have rabbit cages to clean in the garage & need to get to my house to clean it too, it has sorely been neglected lately due to all of my outside projects. I'm just working against time though getting this stuff done outside. I noticed that the grow-out pen had dried out really well last night after mucking it out, so I can put new bedding in that today too. I will have to work some more on my trench I'm digging to try to divert the water away from there The darned GPs think they're helping me by filling in my trench out there in one spot, I got after Lily yesterday for messing with it.

Well my DH finally got out of his chair, so now i have to go direct him where to put feed.

 

[checoukan]

Well, I didn't drive my noon route, just did not feel good.

Hawkeye~~~That is cute
Trish~~~I think most of us were very lucky with our children. Was told a 16 year old here been fighting cancer, has broke withit again

As most of you know Ivy lost her daughter to cancer.

Well its raining here, sure don't feel like going outside at all. BRRRRR I don't like going out on days like this.